Natural Gas is the Hero of Super Bowl LVII
As we’re getting our Super Bowl party plans together for one of the biggest games in sports, we often forget about all the planning that the hosting state must also do. When preparing to host a Super Bowl, states must ensure that they have the necessary tools to host such an event without compromising their residents’ needs. That includes plumbing, sanitation, and of course, energy. This year, residents and visitors of Arizona can rest assured knowing that natural gas will provide the fuel needed to feed the players, generate the electricity for the field’s lights, and everything else required to make Super Bowl Sunday a great success.
If you’re traveling to the Grand Canyon State for the Big Game, you may wonder how much natural gas a state with mild winters might use, so let’s take a closer look at the pregame stats:
Believe it or not, natural gas is the number one source of energy consumed by the state, and it’s the number one fuel source that generates almost half of the state’s electricity. Natural gas fuels more than 1.25 million Arizona households, and businesses are using even more of it. Since 2010, natural gas use by commercial customers has increased by more than 10 percent. The natural gas industry also supports nearly 40,000 jobs in the state.
Just as a good quarterback needs a reliable offensive line to protect him from the defense, a Super Bowl host stadium needs reliable energy. Unplanned outages only affect about 1 in 800 natural gas customers per year. In contrast, electric distribution systems average one outage per year per customer.
While Super Bowl ticket prices are on the rise, Arizona’s natural gas prices have declined by 17 percent since 2010. Natural gas is an affordable energy option for Arizona’s customers and communities, with an average cost of $462 per year compared to $580 per year for electricity. In addition to keeping prices low for direct users, natural gas usage for electricity generation has kept Arizona’s electricity prices below the U.S. average.
The Super Bowl MVP often boasts an X Factor that sets him apart from the rest of the roster. So, what’s natural gas’ X Factor? In Arizona, the increased use of natural gas has led to a 11 percent decrease in emissions since 2005. That’s worthy of MVP recognition.
Whether it’s directly carrying the ball or assisting a teammate, it’s clear that natural gas is the team player we all wish we had on our rosters. And it’s safe to say that when natural gas is in the game, it’s almost a guaranteed win!